Trousers stretcher



April 7, 1925. 1,532,586

M. DIETRICH TROUSERS STRETCHER Filed Nov. 14, 1923 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOI? MHX .D/ETRICH MMA ,4 TTORNEYJ iApril 7, 1925. 1,532,586

M. DIETRICH TROUSERS ,STRETCHER Filed Nov. 14, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ill) Patented Apr. 7, 1925.

STATES.

PATENT FFIC.

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TROUSERS sTRnTcHEB.

Application filed November 14,1923. Serial No. 674,619.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAX Din'rnrori, a citizen of the Republic of Germany, resid ing at Halle-on-the-Saale, and Republic of -Grermany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trousers Stretchers, of which the following is a specification,

The principal object of this invention is to provide a new and improved construction of a trousers stretcher of great simplicity which can be manufactured and sold at a low cost.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which, because of its sim plicity and light weight can be readily and easily manipulated and operated.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which while being of light weight and simplicity will be very durable and will also be very effective in its operation, enabling a very badly mussed and baggy pair of trousers to be pressed into a smooth and well creased condition as if pressed in the usual manner by a tailor or bushelman.

For the accomplishment of these and such further objects as will hereinafter be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this appertains, the invention consists in the constructiom combination and arrangement of parts herein specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that. changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall. within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings, forming a portion of this specification Fig. 1 is a plan view of trousers stretcher embodying my invention showing the device in its open position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. I, show ing the device in its closed position.

Figs. 3 and 4 are sections on the lines 33 and 4 4 of Figs. 1 and 2 respectively.

5 is a side elevation of a pair of trousers showing my device inserted therein.

for pressing or stretching the same, and

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

As shown in the drawings, the numerals 10 and 11 indicate the longitudinally extending members of the trousers stretchers which members as shown in Figs, 3 and 4 are of wedge shape in cross section so as to provide a thin edge to define a sharp crease in the trousers such as produced by the usual pressing operation.

Secured to the ends of the members 10 and 11 or integral therewith are the members 12 and 13 and 14 and. 15 respectively which form the transversely extending members of the trousers stretcher. -As the con tending around and slidably engaging the adjacent member so as to hold the members 12 and 14 in alignment as the device is moved from the open to the closed position and vice versa. Rivets 17 are extended as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to form an anchor ing means for the end of a contraction spring 18 which is coiled about the 0verlapping ends of members 12 and 14.

The inner end of member 14 is provided with a groove or recess 19 with which is adapted to engage a pin 20 projecting inwardly from a pivotally mounted finger grip 21. A cooperating fixed finger grip 22 is secured as by rivets 23 to the side face of the member 12 and both finger grips are provided as is common with devices of this character withthe ears 24 through which the pivot pin 25 passes, a spring 26 being provided to urge the finger grip 21 about the pivot pin to cause the pin 20 to normally engage the side face of member 12. The inner end of member 14 is tapered as at 27 to cause pin 20 to ride up upon the side face of member 14 as the device is moved to closed position.

It will be noted that the longitudinally extending member 11. is suitably curved to cause the trousers when stretched. to conform to the curvature of the back portions of the trouser legs;

The operation of the device is as follows, 7

assuming theflparts to be in the open position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, if it is desired to insert the stretcher in the trousers, the longitudinally extending members 10 and 11 are grasped midway of their length and are forced together against the action of spring 18 thus expanding the spring to the position shown in Fig. 4. During this movement of the parts, pin 20 will ride upon the tapered surface 27 until under the influence of spring 26 it will spring into the groove or recess 19, thus locking the stretcher in closed position. The stretcher is then placed within a trouser leg and after the trousers have been carefully smoothed out by hand and the stretched frame properly arranged to cause the creases to be produced in their proper place, the pivotal finger grip 21- is actuated to release pin 20' from groove or recess '19, thus permit-- ting the spring 18-t-o expand the frame and to cause the thin edges of the members 10 and 11 to be held with a strong pressure against the trousers, thereby forming a sharp crease in the trousers and holdin themin stretched condition until all the b-agginess and wrinkles have been removed.

It Will also be seen that' the trousers stretcher comprises an extensible two part framework, each part of which is similar and consists of a substantially U- shap'edmember, one member being composed of the parts 10, 12 and 13, and the other of the parts 11,

14 and 15.

It will be understood that a pair of frames will be use'd, one for each leg of the trousers and ifdesireda hook such as indicated at 28 in Fig. 5' may be employed for hanging the trousers in a closet while they are being stretched,

Because of the fact; that the device when extended is held in open position solely by the spring 18, it Will be evident that it may be used introusers of all sizes and widths.

Having. thus described my invention What I claim asnew and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is:

1.- Ina trousers stretcher, an extensible framework com-prising a pair of longitudi' nally extending members and a pair of transversely extending members,- each of said transversely extending members con sisting of apair ofrelatively movable sections, shdably mterconne'cted in overlapping relation, a contractile spring coiled about the overlapping ends of said sections to-normal'ly hold said framework in extended position, one of said sections being provided with a groove and the other of said sections being provided with a pivot-ally mounted finger grip l'i'aving' a pin seci'tr'ed thereto, said. piir being adapted to engage within 1 said groove to hold said framework against the action of said spring in a closed position.

2. In a trousers stretcher, an extensible framework COHIQIi'S'lHg. a pair of longitudr na/l'ly extending members and a pair of transversely extending members, each of said transversely extending members consisting of a pair of relatively movable sec tions, slidably interconnected in overlapping relation, a contractile spring'coiled about the overlapping ends of said sections to normally hold said framework in extended position, one of said sections being provided with a groove and the other of said sections being provided with a pivotally mounted finger grip having apin secured thereto, said pin being adapted to" engage Within said' groove to hold said fran'lework' against the action ofsaid spring inclosed position and resilient means to normally urge said finger grip and pin into said groove.

3. In a trousers stretcher, an extensible framework comprising a pair of longitudinally extendingmembers and a pair of transversely extending members, each of said transversely extending members consisting of a pair of relatively movable sections, slidably interconnected inoverlapping relation, a contractile springcoiled about the overlapping ends of said sections to normally hold said framework in extended position, one of said sections being provided with a groove and the other of said sections being. provided with a pivotally mounted finger grip having a pinsecured' thereto, said pin being adapted to engage within said groove tohold said framework against the action of said spring in acl'osed position, resilient means to normally urge said finger grip and pin into said groove, and a tapered guiding surf-ace adjacent said groove to cause said pin to be automatically urged against the action of said resilient means and to permit said pin to enter said groove.-

45. Ina trousers stretcher, an extensible framework including relatively movable members each havingsections arranged in overlap-ping relation to corresponding sections of the other member, one of said sections having groove and an inclined surface adjacent to said groove, a locking device carried by the section adjacent to the last named section and having means capable of being initially engaged by said inclined surface as said members are contracted so as to be urged. toward said groove and thereafter engageable in said roove.- to maintain said members in contracted position, and meansto normally maintain said members in extended position. 7

In testimony Whereor i have afiixe'd my signature.

MAX DIETRICH. 

